Orlando Pirates have terminated the contracts of eight first-team players in efforts to streamline their squad for the upcoming season.
Having already signed four players in Deon Hotto, Terrance Dzvukamanja, Thulani Hlatshwayo and Collins Makgaka, the Buccaneers are looking to better their third-place finish in the 2019/20 campaign.
Midfielder Xola Mlambo, veteran defender Alfred Ndegane and Zambia striker Augustine Mulenga are the most high-profile departures.
Pirates confirmed the exits on the club’s official website.
“Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm that it has met with the following players and their respective representatives and both parties have agreed to mutually terminate.
- Alfred Ndengane
- Diamond Thopola
- Xola Mlambo
- Meshack Maphangule
- Brian Hlongwa
- Thembela Sikhakhane
- Augustine Mulenga
- Tercious Malepe
The Club would like to thank all the players for their service and wish them the best in their future endeavours.”
Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer looks to build a squad to challenge for the inaugural DStv Premiership campaign.
How Have The Fans Reacted?
As expected, the news has received mixed reactions from the fans. Some of the fans are happy saying the club needed to get rid of dead-wood if they are to challenge for the title. Others are sad to see their favourite players go out the exit.
“Players come and go so there are still more room for other players to prove themselves and soon we will forget about those who left the club,” commented one fan on the Soccer Laduma website.
Another fan had the following to say: “We will never understand why this player leave because we are not coaches. It doesn’t mean they are bad players, it’s just that they don’t fit in the current coach system or they are surplus. They can still prove themselves somewhere, especially the likes of Mlambo, Malepe etc.”
In these challenging times of the Coronavirus it’s a cause for anxiety to be out of a job. We wish these 8 players all the best in their future and hope they will find other clubs to sign them.
Pirates will get the new season underway with the MTN8 quarter-final match against Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on October 17.
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